AU Endorses AI Strategy for Both Sectors

Published Date: 10/08/2024

The African Union has approved a strategy to adopt AI across public and private sectors in member states to drive development and well-being.

The African Union (AU) Executive Council has approved the “Continental Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy,” which proposes the adoption of AI in the public and private sectors among member states, including Nigeria.

This was disclosed in the Continental Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy document published on the AU website on Friday, August 9, 2024.

The AU Strategy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) was adopted by the AU Executive Council during its 45th Ordinary Session held between July 18 and 19, 2024, in Accra, Ghana.

The strategy includes fifteen action areas focusing on governance, skills, research, and infrastructure to support AI growth.

Implementation will occur in two phases (2025-2030), emphasizing regional cooperation and ethical AI use.

The strategy was unanimously endorsed by the African ICT and Communications Ministers of the AU in June 2024, among others.

Key Recommendations of the Endorsed Strategy 

Develop Africa-owned AI infrastructure  An AI infrastructure is an integrated environment of hardware and software designed specifically for AI and machine learning workloads, paving the way for data processing and deployment.

AI Regulation  The strategy recommends guidelines that will moderate the boundaries of AI usage on the continent.

Funding for AI-based Research  The strategy calls for financial support aimed at enriching the knowledge base of Africans on AI capabilities and functionalities.

What the adopted Strategy now proposes for African countries

As disclosed in the document, the AU Executive Council backed the adoption of AI in the public and private sectors of African countries, among other proposals.

Here are the fifteen action areas proposed by the adopted strategy 

Establishment of an appropriate AI governance system and regulations at regional and national levels.

Promoting the adoption of AI in the public sector, with a view to delivering efficient services to citizens, businesses, and others.

Adoption of AI in the core sectors outlined in Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Adoption of AI by the private sector, including small and medium enterprises.

Creating an enabling environment for a vibrant and inclusive AI startup ecosystem.

Ensuring the availability of high-quality and diverse datasets for AI, which highlights building the underlying infrastructure for AI, like computing platforms such as high-performance computing, data centers, and cloud services.

Promoting AI skills and talent in schools, colleges, workplaces, and among the population, including the provision of upskilling and reskilling programs and requirements for jobs at risk.

Promoting research and innovation in AI through partnerships between academia and the private and public sectors.

Adoption and implementation of ethical principles for AI that respects diversity, inclusivity, and African culture and values, among others.

Adoption and implementation of technical standards to ensure the safety and security of AI systems across the continent.

Accelerating public and private investment in AI in Africa.

Promoting regional cooperation and coordination with the participation of relevant stakeholders from academia, civil society, media, governments, and the private sector to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of AI in Africa.

Accelerating African participation in global AI governance.

Promoting AI-related partnerships between Africa and the rest of the world, with a view to mobilizing financial and technical resources for AI development in Africa.

More Insights

The Continental AI Strategy proposes a five-year timeframe between 2025 and 2030 for implementing the actions in the fifteen areas, and it will be implemented in two phases 

Phase One (2025 to 2026) will focus on the creation of necessary governance frameworks, national AI strategies, resource mobilization activities, and building capacities at the AU, RECs, specialized agencies, and Member States.

Phase two will focus on the implementation of core projects and actions of the continental AI strategy.

According to the document, only six countries (Algeria, Benin, Egypt, Mauritius, Rwanda, and Senegal) have developed stand-alone AI strategies as of July 2024.

Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda are said to be “addressing AI in combination with other emerging technologies, such as blockchain, or in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

Meanwhile, the AU observed that other countries, such as Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda, have taken significant steps to define AI policies and establish institutions to drive AI development.

FAQS:

Q: What is the African Union's Continental Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy?

A: The Continental AI Strategy is a document that proposes the adoption of AI in the public and private sectors among member states, including Nigeria, to drive development and well-being.

Q: What are the key recommendations of the endorsed strategy?

A: The key recommendations include developing Africa-owned AI infrastructure, AI regulation, and funding for AI-based research.

Q: What are the fifteen action areas proposed by the adopted strategy?

A: The fifteen action areas include establishment of an appropriate AI governance system, promoting the adoption of AI in the public sector, adoption of AI in the core sectors, and others.

Q: What is the implementation timeline for the Continental AI Strategy?

A: The implementation timeline is five years, from 2025 to 2030, and will be implemented in two phases.

Q: Which countries have developed stand-alone AI strategies as of July 2024?

A: Six countries, including Algeria, Benin, Egypt, Mauritius, Rwanda, and Senegal, have developed stand-alone AI strategies as of July 2024.

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